I'm trying to replace a basic on/off switch for the fan in my powder room with a timer switch (which requires a neutral). The timer switch comes with red, white & black wires, the same as what the old fan switch was connected to.
In the same box there's also a light switch which is also connected to another on/off switch in the next room. In speaking to the timer mfg they told me it won't work with a 3 way switch. Instead of returning it I'm assuming there must be a way to separate the fan from the 3 way switch so it'll work.
The old on/off switch had a red & white wire coming from a romex and it had a black wire (power I'm assuming) that connected to a number of other black wires.
Can I get this timer to work?? Thx!
Here's a pic. The 3 wires with the orange caps are what the old on/off fan switch were attached to (which had 1 black & 2 brass screws). The light (motion sensor switch pictured) works independent of the fan. The mfg said the timer switch I bought won't work in a 3 way after he saw this pic. So I'm trying to figure out how to get around the 3 way. A light switch in the next room can also turn this light on and off (and I don't need it if that helps).
Timer Switch This is the timer switch I bought and yes I'm open to buying another digital timer if its easier to hook up.
Here's a better pic, hope it helps (again, the orange screw caps are on the wires that were connected to the old fan switch).
Here's a wiring diagram. There's a 5th romex at the bottom of the box. There is only 1 switch which controls the fan & I think the white wire went to the black screw on the old switch.
My wiring diagram is correct. It's an optical illusion in the photo. The white & red with the orange caps come from the same romex.
Does anyone have a suggestion? Thanks everyone!
Thanks Phase 3 & Harper for your answers!
Harper I had a question. You said "OK, since you say only one switch operates it, I assume the 3-way switch at the other end has been disabled. Okay, all three wires in cable 3 get disconnected and capped off (2 of them already are)." The switch in the next room still controls the light (only) and nothing has been disabled. Does that affect your answer?
Harper – I tried your answer and the timer works! Problem now is that the light doesn't work. 🙂 Since you assumed the 3-way switch at the other end was disabled, I disconnected the wires on that switch (in the other room) and capped them off. Would this have caused the light not to work or do we have another issue? Thanks.
I put the wires back on the switch in the other room and everything works!! Thanks!
Best Answer
Cable 1 is supply or onward power (always-hot and neutral).
Cable 5 is supply or onward power (always-hot and neutral).
Cable 2 is neutral (white) and 2 travelers to the light; this circuit goes onward to the other 3-way, then to the lamp.
Cable 3 is 2 travelers and a switched-hot (black) going over to the other 3-way which controls this fan. That 3-way is a "spur"; that far switch doesn't connect to any other wires.
Cable 4 is switched-hot and neutral going to the fan.
What a weird situation.
I would use electrical tape to re-color these as follows: The 2 travelers (white and red) from cable 2, make them both yellow. The black wire in cable 4 is a switched-hot; color it red. The wires in cable 3, I don't care about because we're about to deprecate them.
OK, since you say only one switch operates it, I assume the 3-way switch at the other end has been disabled. Okay, all three wires in cable 3 get disconnected and capped off (2 of them already are).
The black pigtail from the clump goes to the supply hot on that timer.
The black wire from cable 4 goes to the load wire on that timer.
Timer neutral gets added to the neutral bundle.